A

s religious freedom watchdogs decry rising intolerance in the capital and the country as a whole, representatives of 10 Muslim organizations gathered alongside Christian leaders to deliver Christmas and New Year’s greetings on Thursday at the Maarif Institute.

Among the demonstrators were the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), Muhammadiyah Students Union (IMM) and the Indonesian Nationalists Students Movement (GMNI).

“We would like to say merry Christmas to all Christians in Indonesia. We also want to voice our concerns over violent incidents against minorities in Indonesia. Our Christmas and New Year’s message is an appeal to all Indonesians to unite and fight every form of intolerance,” HMI chairman Muhammad Chozin Amirullah said.

Jeirry Sumampow from the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) welcomed the greetings and the Christmas message.

“This is beautiful. Admittedly, minor incidents against Christians still happen, but overall, I feel almost no pressure coming into this year’s Christmas,” he said.

Ton Abdillah from the IMM admitted it had not been easy to plant the pluralist spirit in the organization’s followers.

“Religious issues are still sensitive, especially at the regional level, but we never stop teaching open-mindedness, that building relations is crucial not only with Muslims but with followers of other religions.”

Indonesian Muslims still have different opinions about wishing someone a merry Christmas. Some believe it is fine, but others disagree.

In 1984 the MUI banned Muslims from saying merry Christmas.

Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring, of the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is one of those who chose not to offer Christmas greetings for religious reasons.

Former religious affairs minister and prominent Muslim scholar, M. Quraish Shihab, said that Christmas greetings are allowed in Islam.

“It’s OK, as long as it does not affect your creed,” he responded to a Twitter follower who asked how Islam considers a Muslim who wishes merry Christmas to a Christian.

In one of his books, titled Membumikan Al-Quran (Implementing the Koran), Quraish quoted an excerpt from the Koran’s Surah Maryam, depicting a scene where Maryam (Mary) was giving birth.

Maryam’s baby, who was the prophet Isa (Jesus), prayed, “Best wishes be upon me for my birthday, my death, and for the day when I am resurrected,” it says in the Koran.

“That was the first Christmas greeting and the Koran captures it. Why can’t we celebrate Isa’s birthday?” Quraish said.

But not all Muslims are happy about this year’s Christmas.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has voiced concern over the excessive Christmas decorations and accessories at malls and other business centers, particularly in Jakarta.

“Based on reports and direct observation, the Christmas symbols, accessories and decorations are too much. We hope the managers of these places will be wise and respect the feelings of other religions’ followers,” said Muhyiddin Junaidi, one of the council’s leaders.

The Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) meanwhile raised concerns over the intolerance against a church in Bogor, West Java. The Bogor municipality re-sealed an Indonesia Christian Church in Taman Yasmin on Monday.

“While Christians worldwide are celebrating Christmas, Christians in Bogor are facing intolerance from city officials. We deeply condemn the re-sealing on the grounds of human rights and religious tolerance which are guaranteed in our Constitution,” PBHI chief Angger Jati Wijaya said.